30 September 2004
HSBC and IFRC raise funds for the flood affected people

HSBC Bangladesh CEO Mr David J H Griffiths (L) handing over a cheque from the HSBC and Red Cross Flood Donation Drive to Mr Anthony Maryon, Head of delegation in Bangladesh of International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies. Also seen in the picture are Mr Muneer Hussain, Manager, Marketing and Public Relations, HSBC and Mr A F M Obaidur Rahman, Secretary General of Bangladesh Red Crescent Society.

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC) Ltd and International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies of Bangladesh (IFRC) joined hands and raised funds for the flood-affected people of Bangladesh. Cheques were handed over periodically to Red Cross to support their ongoing efforts and the final one was handed over to Mr Anthony Marion, Head of IFRC delegation in Bangladesh at a ceremony on 7 September 2004.

IFRC used the part of the funds to buy and distribute family kits and the rest will be used to build houses for the flood-affected people in different parts of Bangladesh.

HSBC Bangladesh initiated various efforts to gather funds for the flood account. This included selling of BDT 100 and BDT 800 coupons to customers and non-customers alike at all HSBC offices and Customer Service Centers, waiving of remittance charges, gathering staff donations, appealing to HSBC group offices for funds and raising public awareness about the floods through Billboards at different locations and posters at all HSBC branches and Customer Service Centers. Emails were sent out to HSBC customers residing in and outside Bangladesh requesting donations to the account. Alongside, HSBC Sports and Social club distributed rice, potatoes, bottled water, high protein biscuits, oral saline and old clothes to more than 1250 distressed people in the remote char areas of Kakura and Belkuchi upazila as well as to the affected people living in squalid huts across from the Bank premises.

HSBC group companies also came together to aid the flood-affected people. Staff from HSBC Brunei, HSBC Hong Kong, HSBC Japan, HSBC UK, HSBC Amanah Dubai, HSBC Malaysia and HSBC Thailand donated funds for the flood relief. While HSBC Malaysia and HSBC Japan matched staff contributions, HSBC UK, HSBC Amanah UK, HSBC Hong Kong and HSBC UAE waived remittance charges for donations to the flood account.

Information regarding the flood relief was posted on HSBC Asia website and IFRC-The Red Cross Website. An email was sent out to HSBC Bangladesh customers requesting donations to the flood account. Billboards with flood relief banners were put up at different locations and posters at all HSBC Bangladesh branches and customer service centers. Two local dailies (The Daily Star and Prothom Alo) placed free ads on their websites requesting donations. Information regarding donations to the flood account was posted in the Bangladeshinfo.com website, not to mention HSBC Bangladesh website